The Origins of the Cold War

Chapter 19: Section 1

1945--A Critical Year Yalta Conference

Poland = most difficult issue• Stalin wanted Communist government

• Poland protected USSR

United Nations created Truman takes command The Potsdam Conference

Truman’s 1st meeting w/ Stalin

Told Stalin of A-bomb

Conflicting Postwar Goals: United States Americans fought to bring democracy and economic opportunity to conquered nations of Europe.

An economically strong and politically open world created markets for American products.

Conflicting Postwar Goals: Soviet Union

Lost 17 million in war Determined to re-build protecting own interests

Established satellite nations Created buffer zone on western border

Looked to spread communism across world

Soviets Tighten Their Hold

Political control over nations freed from Nazi control.

Poland elections don’t happen for 2 years.

Nations to fall to Communism Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, East Germany, Finland, & Yugoslavia

Cold War Divisions in Europe

The Iron Curtain 1946 Speech, Stalin predicts communism to triumph over capitalism.

Churchill coined term Iron Curtain Describe communist and non-communist life

Speeches set the tone for the Cold War.

Containment George Keenan (American Diplomat in USSR) said U.S. policy needed to be a long-term patient but firm containment of USSR expansion.

Eastern Europe was lost, but to prevent Communism from spreading further.

The Truman Doctrine Called on the United States to take the leadership role in the prevention of the spread of communism.

Policy said that U.S. would support countries who are resisting outside pressures (communism).

The Cold War Heats Up

Chapter 19: Section 2

The Marshall Plan Secretary of State George C. Marshall unveiled this policy.

Called for nations of Europe to draw up a program for economic recovery after WWII.

U.S. would support it financially. Created good economies = markets for U.S. trade.

The Berlin Airlift Germany split into East Germany (Communist) and West Germany (Democratic).

Berlin split as well (West Berlin was in East Germany).

New currency in East Germany created blockade of goods.

Created a shortage in W. Berlin.

Lifted goods into Berlin by plane (13,000 tons/day)

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Looked to United Nations to help w/ postwar protection

Soviet Union veto power

Canadian foreign minister Louis St. Laurent proposed creating an “association of democratic peace-loving states”

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) cont’d…

U.S. showed great interest

April 1949, U.S. joined 10 other countries to create NATO

Each nation agreed to collective security, or mutual military assistance

Communist Advances The Soviet Atomic Threat

U.S. has evidence USSR has nuclear capabilities

Truman asks for superiority (hydrogen or thermonuclear)

Federal Civil Defense Administration

China Falls to Communists Mao Zedong defeats Jiang Jieshi even w/ U.S. support

People’s Republic of China Stain on the Truman administration

Called for greater protection of the rest of Asia

The Cold War at Home The Loyalty Program

Government officials launch programs to keep communism out of U.S.

Many Americans were anxious House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Investigated disloyalty on eve of WWII

Probed government agencies and Hollywood movie industry

Hollywood had created pro-communist films

The Cold War at Home cont’d… The Hollywood Ten

Group of Hollywood big names asked to testify in front of HUAC

Those who refused to answer were cited for contempt

Studios compiled a blacklist The McCarran-Walter Act

Discriminated against immigrants from Asia and Southern Europe

Truman vetoed bill Congress passed it over the veto

The Cold War at Home cont’d…

Spy Cases Inflame the Nation Alger Hiss as Soviet Spy (4 yrs. Prison)

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg• Accused of passing Atomic Secrets

• Executed in 1953